title: Automated measurement of skull circumference, cranial index, and braincase volume from pediatric computed tomography.
abstract: Normative values of pediatric skull circumference, cranial index, and braincase volume would inform multiple disciplines including neurosurgery, plastic surgery and anthropology. Semi-automated methods exist for obtaining these data but are time consuming and require expertise. We report on a new method for automated extraction of in vivo measures of pediatric crania based on x-ray computed tomography scans (CT). Data were obtained from a clinical image repository for pediatric populations in whom no pathology was noted. The automated process showed good agreement with semi-automated measures, although there was a small bias for both braincase volume and circumference. We developed an open source program to automatically extract measures of skull circumference, cranial index, and braincase volume that are likely to prove useful in multiple disciplines.
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Politte
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reiker
authors.forename: Tracy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hildebolt
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mattson
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.forename: Sergei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turovets
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Larson-Prior
mesh_terms: D049628:Body Size; D002648:Child; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D009929:Organ Size; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods